It's been months since I worked on my Santa, started in a class with Donna Hrkman.  I didn't have much left to hook but it got put aside for other projects and the fact I needed to reverse hook the antique black border.  Even though a well known teacher said the black was fine and not to change it to brown, I just found it too harsh.

Yesterday while hooking at the historical society I was changing out the black for a dark brown.  Much better me thinks.  Hopefully this will be and hooked and bound before Christmas.  (The color in the above picture is more accurate.)

Today was the annual TubaChristmas at our downtown theater.  Cheesy fun as always.

Many decorate their instrument.

Our downtown theater is the Lorain Palace Theatre.  It opened in 1928 with a cost of $500k.  In today's dollars that is nearly $9.5 million.  In 1928, it was the largest one floor theater in Ohio.  Over the years there were hard times, but it never closed.  It seats 1,441.

The chandelier weighs 3/4 ton and has 87 40 watt bulbs to light it.  The cut crystals are Yugoslavian.  (I am proud to be Slovenian on my mother's side.)

A few pictures of her beauty.

My sister worked the concession stand when she was in high school.  I was able to go with her on Saturday afternoons and watch the cartoons and film.  That was a VERY long time ago.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Miscellaneous Monday Stuff ~

Christmas is approaching much too quickly, but I should be happy it is only December 9!  The inside decorating is pretty much done.  Cards still need to be written and outside decorating done.  I don't do much outside, but it still takes time.  Now gifts are another issue.  I had planned to make a couple more but I am losing faith that I can pull it off.  Need to check what gifts I have purchased and add a few as needed.  Plus I still need to mail two boxes off to family members.  Geez . . . then what am I doing on this darned machine 😁 ?

We had the most amazing sunset the other night.  I just happened to catch it from the driveway.  I wish I had noticed it earlier and headed to the lakefront for pictures with no obstructions.

Yesterday was Lorain's 29th annual TubaChristmas (it was started 51 years ago) and we enjoyed it as always.  You can read more about it here.

This little one, Bad Miss Molly, popped up as a memory yesterday.  How I miss that little stinker!  This was taken in January 2023 😪

Back to work. 

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

TubaChristmas ~

First of all I am happy to report that my brother is home from the hospital and doing well.  Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

This afternoon was the annual TubaChristmas in Lorain, OH.  Every year I post about what great, cheesy fun it is and this year did not disappoint.

Some fun facts from this year's show.

• this is the 50th anniversary of the start of TubaChristmas and the 28th year in Lorain
• the band director who started the Lorain TubaChristmas, Dale, has decided to pass the torch to a new band director.  Dale's daughter, who is working in Croatia, flew home to play with the group since it was her dad's last
• there is no admission charge to the audience but the tuba players pay to play
• there were 123 tuba players participating
• the youngest tuba players this year were 12 years old, and ironically both were named Luke
• the oldest player was 80
• 2 players (and Dale) have participated in all 28 concerts in Lorain

I tried to upload a video, but blogger says all my videos are too large 😖.  If you go to YouTube and do a search, you will find many.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Another Easy Woolly Craft ~

Head on over to the Dollar (and a quarter) Tree and pick up this wreath form.  

Two in a package so after cutting apart (using a grinder or tin snips . . . not sure . . . my sweetie cut them for me) you end up with 6 rings, 5 1/2", 6 3/4" and 8", 2 of each.  They can be found more in the craft section, not Christmas.

For the larger two rings, I tore the wool 2".  The smallest ring was cut about 1 3/4".  Snip the wool being careful not to cut the strip apart.  No need to be exact.    For the largest ring I cut the strips about  1/2" wide and a bit narrower for the other two rings.  I prefer the narrower cut.  You can double the strip to make the cutting go a little more quickly.

Using tacky glue, start winding the "feathers" around, being careful to avoid the glue.  I would spread the glue maybe an 1 1/2" - 2", wind the wool and then start the process over.  Overlap the strips as you go around.

At the end, I put a dab of glue and clipped it to allow it to dry.

Add a wool bow and you are all set.  Add embellishments as desired.  I prefer mine rather plain.

Yesterday was TubaChristmas and my longtime readers know how much I love it.  Yesterday did not disappoint.  I tried to upload a video, but blogger said the file was too large.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

This, That and a Molly Update ~

Molly's pathology report was better than expected.  The excision on her back was a grade one, but the one that developed so quickly on her side was between a one and a two.  I will just have to closely watch her to see if more develop.  Now it's just a waiting game.  Fingers crossed she doesn't develop more.  Stitches come out on Thursday 💗

Saturday night . . . what was to be a few of DSO's neighbors over my house to see my Christmas decorations (he is always amazed at what I do), morphed in to about 25 people being at my house.  As my dear, sweet mom (whom everyone absolutely loved!) would have not so delicately said, that would be like putting 10# of sh** in a 5# bag 😁 It was pretty much standing room only.  I did get many compliments on all my Santas and decorations, but the majority of the crowd was definitely not "antique" people nor "crafty" type people.  No comments about all the antiques nor any of the rugs even after I took them in to my somewhat cleaned up hooking room . . . though that moniker did bring some chuckles.  Partway through the evening, I noticed that the lights had gone out on the top third of my tree.  UGH!  Do you know that you can't find strands of 35 or 50 clear Christmas lights this close to the big day?  I had extra strands of 100 (too many) and that's what the stores had . . . all five that I went to.  I ended up with two strands of 20 ~ not quite enough ~ and not quite as bright as the lights already on the tree, but I am calling it good and no one would probably notice unless I pointed it out.

Yesterday was the 25th TubaChristmas in Lorain (of course 2020 was cancelled) though it was actually started in 1974 at New York City's Rockefeller Plaza Ice Rink.  Just a fun, cheesy way to spend the afternoon.  

This tuba player wore a red nose that blinked the entire time.

I have barely had a hook in hand for the last month, but that is so typical for me.  Between Thanksgiving and Christmas I am just crazy busy, but tonight I will find make time to pull a few loops.  I thought I would be finished with my Santa rug and Ole Jack by now, but not sure when that is going to happen.

I just have to share this fun carpenter box I purchased a couple weeks ago at an antique shop.  It is just perfect on the dining room table.  Fresh greens, pine cones, old silver Christmas balls, battery lights and a battery flicker candle.  I love it!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Winter Solstice ~

So happy that the winter solstice has arrived.  I appreciate every extra minute of daylight we receive!

Gift wrapping at Barnes & Noble was a great success.  Molly and I worked a double shift.  Here she is with Paisley, a 3 year old fawn girl.  It's hard to tell in this picture, but Paisley is the tiniest little thing weighing only twelve pounds.  (Molly is just over sixteen.)

They charmed the shoppers.

Ernestine came and paid us a visit.

By the third hour, Molly was totally worn out.  It's hard being this cute.  (Thank you Melissa for her darling dress!)

I am happy to report that $1256.00 was donated for the pugs, and being a totally volunteer organization, every penny goes to help the them.

Each year I post about TubaChristmas and what a fun time it is.  This year was no exception.  100 tuba players ranging in age from 10 to 79, including several from out of state.  Next year will be the 25th year one has been held in our city.  It was said they are planning something special to mark the occasion.  

After TubaChristmas we celebrated Jake's Christmas.  Always good to spend time with family.

Tomorrow will be last minute grocery shopping.  NOT looking forward to that for sure.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

TubaChristmas ~

Every year I post about TubaChristmas and what fun it is.  This year was no exception.  I think it is the 45th year overall and the 23rd year in Lorain.  This year there were 78 tuba players ranging in age from 10 to 75.   Ohio had the second most TubaChristmases in the US, with 20 of them. 

 

I'm not sure if the video will play.

 

 

Sometime the acorn doesn't fall too far from the tree.  When my son J was a young teen, he loved quirky apparel.  For quite some time he wore a Cat in the Hat hat.  Jake and I were at the store yesterday when he found a bow tie that he had to have.  I was so surprised to see him wearing it to TubaChristmas.  Too funny.  The green matches his new braces.  Somehow it doesn't quite go with his Pikachu shirt . . . lol.

 

 

I have several feather trees around the house.  My upstairs landing sports a feather tree (on right).  The little tree to the left is not made of feathers.

 

 

A small one in the dining room with many vintage glass ornaments.

And yet another on the opposite side of the dining room.  Vintage celluloid reindeer and a Santa stand guard.

 

A little pickle is hiding in the tree.  You can read about the legend of the pickle here.

 

This is my only vintage feather tree, purchased 25+ years ago.  Many new but also some vintage glass ornaments and vintage glass bead garlands. 

 

And a pickle hiding here, too.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

TubaChristmas ~

If you've been a follower of my blog, you know that I LOVE TubaChristmas.  Yesterday's performance did not disappoint.  This was the 22nd year it was held at our Palace Civic Center, but it has been around for 40+ years.  This year's tuba players ranged in age 11 to 74 and one participant came all the way from Las Vegas.  His tuba was from 1914.  The number of tuba players appeared a bit smaller this year (they did not tell us how many) but the audience was by far the largest.  I was hoping to add a little video I took, but it would not load properly :(

I finally finished Jolly, another fun little mat from Star Rug Company.  He is just too sweet.

At a primitive show this fall, I saw this tree but would not buy it.  My BFF kindly purchased it for me.  I just think it's a hoot, made from old funnels.

The Christmas season does fly by.  It's hard to believe in just a week we will be celebrating.  I do believe this has been my most stress free season ever.  It is a good WONDERFUL feeling.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren